Deciding to check on her delusional brother, the girl straightened her leotard and set out in search of him. Checking his bedroom she noticed that the contact powder on his pillow would need to be replaced soon. It wouldn't do to have him regain his full strength... he might hurt Ranma-sama after all, even if she doubted it in the end. No, he probably would just tire the poor boy out so that he couldn't shower her with his love. That just wouldn't do.
Next, she checked the kitchen. There, she noticed that the bread she baked for him on a regular basis had been replaced with a store-bought variety. This wouldn't do either. She had spent too much time researching a variety of substances designed to merge with bread and produce the desired effects in her sibling.
Next was the family furo. Granted, she normally used the shower adjourning her bedroom, but every once in a while she participated in a nice, long soak... something she knew her brother indulged in a much more frequent basis. While there, she couldn't help but notice that his normal bar of soap, created especially for him in her lab, was replaced with a variety of liquids in a more... feminine... scent.
Checking the library revealed that his books of Shakespeare were neatly put away. Every volume was not only on the shelf, but placed in order by title. Looking around the room, she couldn't see the usual book or three lying open to a variety of different passages.
Up next was the dojo. The forebidding feeling that had been growing within her had reached the maximum when she spied, not her brother, but another woman. The sheer grace and speed of the woman caused Kodachi to arch an eyebrow as the strange woman performed leg sweeps, slashes, jumps, stabs, kicks, and punches in a manner that reminded her of her love.
When the strage woman had finished her routine, some twenty minutes later, Kodachi had to admit that she was impressed. Only her Ranma-sama was capable of performing such a feat, not once loosing a step or faultering in an attack.
"May I know who you are and how you came to be here?" Kodachi asked, keeping her back straight to ensure proper posture.
To her disappointment, the woman wasn't startled. Instead, she walked with the grace of a hunting cat over to the towel rack and casually selected a fluffy pink one to wipe the sweat from her face before turning to study her.
"Am I to believe that you are Kodachi?" She asked, her sultry tones ringing off the walls.
"I am." Kodochi responded with a slight nod. Inwardly, she was slightly dismayed to see how good looking the other woman was. Large breasts stood proudly on her chest above a very slender waist. Long legs and arms gave her an elfin appearance of fragility. Her perfect complexion, worn so casually, was enough to give any woman a fit of jealousy... not that any of that showed on her face. It just wouldn't do to show a weakness to a potential opponent.
"I am your long lost sister Kimi." The woman responded calmly, wiping the sweat off her upper chest after placing the bokken back on the rack. "I was sent away to not interfere with Tatewaki and his inheritance."
"You have proof of this?" Kodachi asked, her body stiffening in outrage.
A casual wave towards the small table in the dojo, used to hold scrolls and whatnot, was the response. Walking over, the natural female Kuno saw a piece of paper. Picking it up, she could readily see that it was a medical report. Specifically, a DNA test affirming an extremely close match to one Kuno Tatewaki. Turning her head to study the other girl, Kodachi almost sighed in despair. Was every member of her family out to overshadow her in some manner?
"You are my brother's twin?" She asked, laying the paper back down on the table.
"Yes." Kimi responded as she walked closer. "I do not know where Tatewaki has gone off to, but he took the news of another sibling rather... badly."
"Does... father... know that you are back?" Her face had twisted in disgust when mouthing the word father.
"No." Kimi shook her head. "After seeing the man at the school, I have no wish to be exposed to his delusions while at home also."
"A wise choice." Kodachi nodded.
"Tatewaki once mentioned that you are pursuing Soatome Ranma, sister?" Kimi asked calmly, eyeing the other woman carefully. She couldn't help but notice how the girl tensed up.
"I am." The prim and proper Kuno-ite replied with a sharp nod.
"How are you handling the redheaded girl who is frequently within his presense?" Kimi asked carefully, giving the other girl her complete attention while wiping the sweat off her arms with the towel.
Kodachi's face twisted into a sneer. "I have not managed to drive the harridan off, but I will!" She growled, loosing her composure.
"If I may, dear sister, I think that you might be making a mistake." Kimi stated, carefully folding the towel and placing it on the table.
"How so?" The rythmic gymnist sharply asked, her eyes narrowing in distrust towards the other woman.
"Have you noticed how the two wear the same clothes?" Kimi asked, turning her face to the side to study the racks of weapons on the walls of the dojo.
"I have." The younger girl replied. "I assume that you have a theory as to the reason why."
"Have you noticed that they both wear the same hair style also, dear sister?" Kimi asked, turning her steely eyes back to the younger woman.
"I had thought that it was just a case of a serious crush." Kodachi slowly responded. "After all, my Ranma-sama is a prize to be sought after. Even though he is out of her league, I have not been able to defeat her in combat. She is a formable adversary."
"Yes, she is." Kimi nodded. She studied her seething sibling for a second. "Have you also noticed that they two have rather similar facial features?"
This question caused Kodachi to lock up momentarily before turning to her new-found sister in shock. "You imply that they are siblings?" She asked, disbelief coloring her voice.
"I believe so." Kimi nodded regally. "I have also heard of her referred to as Soatome Ranko."
"Oh, dear." Kodachi nibbled her bottom lip. "So all those times that I have attacked the girl and called her names..." She trailed off in despair.
"You might have been driving him further away with each attack." Kimi finished with her calm voice. "I can understand why you would pursue him, sister. I, too, have fallen under his spell. And within a matter of hours, too." She chuckled wryly.
"You will pursue my Ranma-sama?" Kodachi asked with a hiss, regaining her bearing.
Kimi eyed her sister with an arched brow. "I am not adverse to sharing, sister." She responded with a smile. "I have too many pursuits to keep his time fully occupied. I will not give up my art, but it requires a significant portion of my time and strength."
"I see." Kodachi nodded. "I, too, have pursuits that I am unwilling to sacrifice. My lab experiments mean much to me, as they connect me to our mother's work."
"So you cannot keep a man occupied the entire time?" Kimi asked carefully, being sure to make no overt moves.
"No, I cannot." Kodachi whispered, bowing her head.
"Then we will share." Kimi declared. "We will defeat him in battle and make him ours."
"Defeat him? Why would we do that?" Kodachi asked in confusion.
"It is the way to his heart, sister." Kimi stated firmly. "Any other method is doomed to failure."
"I see." The younger girl nodded slowly. "Yet another reason I have failed to capture his heart."
"Together, we cannot fail." Kimi stated with a welcome smile. "Join with me, sister. We will be a force to be feared by all."
"Gladly, my sister!" Kodachi replied in excitement. "We cannot fail if we act together!"
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(Posted Tue, 03 Aug 2004 03:28)
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